About

$8,028

pledged of $8,000 goal

20

backers

Please keep in mind that the illustration you see atop is not complete. We're still adding elves and changing the tigers up a bit. Thank you.

Any funding that exceeds the 100% mark will go towards books printed for the children at St. Jude Children's Hospital. Every copy will be personally signed by the author with a note of thanks to each contributor that pledged $100.00 or more.

Please contact me at boatcrew22@gmail.com with any questions.

First and foremost I would like to give a huge thanks to kickstarter.com and everyone who has supported its artists. Not only are you making dreams come true for us but our audiences get to enjoy your contributions the great projects created, thanks to you.

About: The Jolly Shop

Mr. Cringe grew up with a scientist of a father who was always debunkinganything that could not be proven through science (like Santa), which meant he never really knew what Christmas was. Year after year it was always the same, a nice shiny lump of coal. Kerplunk! Kerplunk!

After growing old and getting more and more bitter by the day, he decided to get even and share his deprived childhood with the rest of the world. Using the ingenuity he inherited from his father, evil Mr. Cringe devised a way to replace Christmas with a little something of his own. He worked and schemed to create a device that could deliver his madness and frustration all in one night, on Christmas eve. Now, all that was left was a touch of the button then mayhem and revenge would be his.

Santa and his team of elves had caught wind of this. With some tricks of their own, a hopeful and jolly Santa, elves, and crew prepped for what could be a catastrophe. But would the reindeer be fast enough? Could his powerful and majestic Saber Tooth Snow Tiger's get there in time to deliver some Christmas spirit and share with Cringe the true meaning of Christmas?

In the end all we can do is hope that Cringe was able to learn that Christmas is not about receiving, but about the gift of giving. Perhaps he even made some friends along the way.

Believe it or not, the idea for The Jolly Shop was conceived while deployed in the Middle east area during OIF and OEF. It may seem odd to some folks how I would get such an idea at a time like that, especially when even 'sleep' was out of my vocabulary. The best way I can explain that is no matter how big a role I may have had, I never felt like it was enough. I always looked at the bigger picture, the grand scheme of things and came to the conclusion that I had much more to share than just serving my country and supporting the freedom of others. I hope I can have a bigger overall impact now by bringing smiles to our youths and our families by sharing the creative abilities I've been blessed with. After ten years of service, a few years later I was able to put those ideas to paper where I came out with a product that both my editors, friends, and family have really been able to enjoy.

Though I have contract offers through several publishing companies, the biggest obstacle I face now is the illustration costs. Though most publishers have their own illustrators, this is my baby. I have a strong vision for this and very few with the 'Disney' style I seek can help me bring this to full fruition. That's correct, Disney! I have it narrowed down to two illustrators that can do this and both have extensive Disney experience.

Children are captivated by images and I want them to feel as much a part of the story as possible. With your help I can commission said illustrator(s) and be able to spread a little extra cheer this Christmas season while teaching children true meaning of Christmas, the gift of giving.

This is an ongoing project as I'm working on the screenplay that I want to have pixel animated, but this book is my near term goal that I first plan to achieve with your help. Thank you for any and all consideration.

You can read a little more about me here where I have two articles published on Ezine Articles.

Support

Select this reward

Pledge $10 or more
About $10

A Jolly Thanks! - Our unrelenting gratitude. We will also retain your email address to include you in on updates to the status of the project, release dates, etc., and a special thank you emailed directly to you from the author.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $25 or more
About $25

The Jolly Bunch - Again, we can't thank you enough!

Added with the above, in this package you will also get a PDF copy of the manuscript giving you a sneak peek at the book before anyone else gets to see it. And we not only update you on the progress (illistrations, publishing, etc.) but we will include you in on our writing tips. We've all had a great deal of support through our endeavors in life and if you're an aspiring writer or one day awaken to feel you'd like to give it a shot, you'll have our support including you in on our writers tips!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $50 or more
About $50

The Jolly Contributor -

With this contribution your book will be signed by the author with a dedication of gratitude written out to you. Not only that but we'll also be sure to have your name and/or organization listed in the dedications section of our iBook/ebook.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $100 or more
About $100

The Jolly Sentinels -

Your support is great and so is our appreciation. In this package you'll get all the above plus 3 signed hard copies and dedication of thanks. We'll include a Merry Christmas message written out to anyone you like.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $150 or more
About $150

The Jolly Trailblazers -

Plowing through the Arctic snow and well on our way, you're a true adventurer. Include all the above and also have your name and organization mentioned in our iBook. Furthermore, once The Jolly Shop website is complete your name and organization will be listed with recognition and thanks.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $200 or more
About $200

The Jolly Gift -

Not only have you received all the above, but now you have 3 signed hardcopies and iBook copies of The Jolly Shop iBook sent to friends or family members with a special thanks on our behalf letting them know of your tremendous support!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $250 or more
About $250

The Jolly Riders-

Dashing through the snow on our way to success. Thank you for embarking on this mission to deliver the Christmas spirit to all. Your recipients of these 5 copies (both signed hardcopy and iBook/ebook) will know just how much you appreciate them and the spirit of Christmas by helping us reach our goal. Your support is beyond appreciated! 5 signed hard copies will also be sent to St. Jude Children's Hospital with a special message from you wishing them a very Merry Christmas.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $300 or more
About $300

Some Jolly Smiles -

Enjoy all the above while bringing more smiles into your home with a phone call or Skype call (your choice) to you and your family on or before Christmas. Keep me posted on your scheduling and we'll make it happen! Furthermore, you may select two schools or libraries of your choice to receive a signed copy of The Jolly Shop as well as The Jolly Shop II (upon release) with a special message letting them know the book was donated to them by you/your organization. Include two more iBooks and another signed book with this package. (That's 7 iBooks and 5 signed hard copies, all sent with some Jolly thanks!) If preferred, any copies can be replaced with Jolly II upon release. You can let us know your preference as soon as we contact you.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

The Jolly Snow Angels-

This package contains all the above as well as 10 books sent to St. Jude Children's Hospital. 10 children will receive a signed hard copy for Christmas with a special dedication letting them know you're thinking of them. Send us your message and we'll add it in letting them it is from you and/or your organization.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,000 or more
About $1,000

The Jolly Guardians -

Like the grand Saber Tooth Snow Tigers in our story, you are also securing Christmas. These are noble and valiant actions as you've just secured a Jolly Christmas for all.

Retain everything mentioned above plus an illustration of your family at The Jolly Shop with Santa, the elves and our Snow Tigers, signed by both the illustrator and author framed to put on your wall. Just send us a family photo and we'll put you all in!

With this package you will also have the opportunity to name an elf for part II that we're working on to be out Christmas of 2013. You have the option of giving a name to an elf or having a character named after you. This story isn't just about Santa's shop and the elves, but families too. A screenplay is also in the making to have done in pixel animation where we will maintain the names of our characters.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,500 or more
About $1,500

The Jolly Journey -

Up over the rooftops and down through the chimneys we go! Your support is having an impact ensuring that we bring more smiles to more homes with this great Christmas story.

Not only does this include everything previously mentioned but now you'll be updated in the writing process for Jolly II where you can give us your feedback. Throw your ideas back and forth with us and help us construct our next book! Want to be an author and break into the industry? Work with us and have your name on our next Jolly Shop book as a co-author!

20 more (30 total) children at St. Jude will receive a signed hard copy for Christmas with a special dedication letting them know you're thinking of them. Send us your message and we'll add it in letting them it is from you and/or your organization.